Meeting is Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, at NWT Conference Center Rooms 247/249, 7:00 AM.
This week - BJ hosts. We will meet at NWT (Formerly WITC) Conference Center Rm 247/249. Meet at 7:00 for meeting and coffee/donuts. 7:15 we will tour the Northwood Technical College's Immersive Room. It is a high-fidelity emergency medical simulation environment located on the Rice Lake campus. It was created to give EMT and paramedic students realistic, sensory-rich training that closely mirrors the conditions they'll encounter in the field. The project was funded through the EduSTAT in Rural Healthcare grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This room is really cool. 3-D projection, smells, and sounds to enhance training for several fields. This is a great opportunity for our Sunrise Club as well as companion club members to attend. Hope to see you there!
Last week Mike VG hosted and we had Tom Bremer (our former club member) join us. He gave us an update on the Salvation Army's Family House Village located on Hwy. TT between Barron and Cumberland. They currently house 8 people in one original building, and also added 2 tiny homes with financial commitments to build 3 more. They are looking for 5 more commitments, for a total of 10 tiny homes. (about $30,000 per tiny home?) Each home will house 1-2 people, with hopes of 1-2 larger homes for up to 4 family members. They are planning to build a community center that has showers, laundry, and restrooms and a community gathering space. Tiny homes are proving to be a more successful way to help individuals stabilize and move out of crisis. Besides financial help, they are also looking for tiny home house builders, painting, landscaping, household goods, and meals for clients on site.
Tom also highlighted the Barron County Backpack program, helping 650 families per month with weekend meals and milk vouchers. It costs them about $2,600 per month to provide this level of support. He also mentioned Salvation Army's other focus areas nationwide of disaster relief and addiction rehabilitation.
Couple of reminders: Aug 24 working at St. Vinnies - let Monika know if you can help out. We have three so far - could use one or two more. Also 1st Qtr dues sent out - please pay. Thanks!
Cumberland Rotary Impact Club Update:
REMINDER - No Meeting this Week- Next Meeting is Wednesday Aug. 26 7:00 AM Harvest Grill
We had a busy week. Our meeting on Wednesday am was great as we got to sit out on the patio at the Harvest Grill. That afternoon we did our Adopt a Highway clean up…thank you to Jill Suresh, Krista,Clare and Lisa. It went quick as there wasn’t a lot of trash. On Saturday was the wrap up of the school supply drive at Nezzy’s. We are so blessed with a supportive community! The supply drive continues until 8/23 and then we will deliver the supplies on 8/24 to the schools. Thanks, Lisa
Shell Lake Area Companion Club Update:
REMINDER - No Gathering this Week - Next Gathering on Wed. August 26, 5:30 pm at the Shell Lake Lodge.
Last week 16 gathered at the Shell Lake Lodge, 7 of which were guests including school Supt. Todd Felhofer and Principal Tiffany Schroeder to discuss possible local student needs. We also discussed possible existing Rotary programs that may be implemented with kids.
Discussion on upcoming Spirits Harvest Dinner brought some ideas of silent auction items and helpers.
Yours in Rotary,
Mark
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS:
Would love to have someone step up to be our next president….who has what it takes? You will get a lot of great support from our current president and board.
This is our 30th Anniversary for Sunrise Rotary - would like to do something - if you want to help out you can join Jason, Monika and Clare for planning. Clare will also be doing a time line - please share YOUR Rotary timeline with Clare or Jason by Mid-August.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Aug. 24 - St. Vinnie's Meal Prep
Oct. 3 - Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Building Project
Oct. 15 - Bourbon Tasting Event
Oct. 22 - Rose Day
UPCOMING PROGRAMS for Sunrise Rotary (Any Rotarian and their guests are welcome to attend):
August Social Activity Planners/AOS and greeters - Monika A. and Ana TS
Aug. 10 - Happy Birthday Bruce G.!
Aug. 20 - Meeting - BJ Williams - NWT Conference Center Rm 247/249. Meet at 7:00 for meeting and coffee/donuts. 7:15 we will tour the Northwood Technical College's Immersive Room.
Aug. 25 - Happy Birthday Dean S.!
Aug. 27 - Meeting - Jim S. (trade with Monika).
September Social Activity Planners/AOS and greeters - Don D. and Joe E.
Sept. 1 - Board Meeting
Sept. 3 - Meeting - Bruce G. - Board Report Out
Sept. 10 - Meeting - Chris F.
Sept. 17 - Meeting - Sheldon J.
Sept. 24 - Meeting - Tyler K.
October Social Activity Planners/AOS and greeters - Bill K. and Trudy K.
Sept. 29 - Board Meeting
Oct. 1 - Meeting - Board Report Out
Oct. 3 - Saturday - Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Build
Oct. 8 - Meeting - Jeremy M.
Oct. 15 - Meeting/Spirits Tasting Event
Oct. 22 - No Meeting - ROTARY ROSE DAY
Oct. 23 - Happy Birthday Jason!
Oct. 29 - Meeting - No presenter- fund raiser wrap ups. Spirits Tasting and Rose Sales.
Just a reminder to work hard on securing a speaker. If you need ideas, reach out to any officer and we’ll be happy to help! If you’re unable to secure a speaker, please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan a focus for the weekly meeting. Please let Trudy know as soon as you have a program set up so it can be added to the calendar. If you need a Zoom link, contact Jason or Joe E.
Be sure to like our Facebook Page! Here is the link:
Thanks Monika for doing our Facebook page - we are up to 137 followers!
ROTARY DISTRICT 5960 BUSINESS/NEWS:
The District Literacy Team encourages all of our clubs to take some time in the month of September to recognize our efforts to enhance literacy in our communities and across the globe. This is a good time to highlight your club’s literacy project focusing on how to advance your goals. Alternatively, you can use a club meeting to:
Connect with your local school district. Recognize a teacher or a Reading Specialist or invite an administrator to speak.
Connect with your local library. Ask about programs we can support or invite a librarian to speak.
Connect with another club and invite them to feature their work in literacy.
Connect with a global grant project that focuses on literacy.
Use this month of connection and recognition to springboard into a year of activity supporting the much-needed work of improving literacy in our youth and the broader community. For additional speaker suggestions, you may reference the District’s Literacy webpage (click here) or drop the District Team Lead, David Waldschmidt, an email at dwaldsch42@gmail.com.
. On Saturday was the wrap up of the school supply drive at Nezzy’s. We are so blessed with a supportive community! The supply drive continues until 8/23 and then we will deliver the supplies on 8/24 to the schools. Thanks, Lisa
